Support assembly for a tiltable hot metal processing vessel

ABSTRACT

A support assembly for use with a hot metal processing vessel, including a plurality of upper primary brackets fixed to the vessel at spaced intervals thereabout, each of the brackets having laterally extending trunnion-ring engaging bottom portions. A trunnion ring is provided in spaced relationship to an intermediate section of the vessel, and is arranged to have sliding contact with the ring-engaging portions of the primary brackets. The primary brackets have T-shaped pockets at the lower ends thereof, which pockets are sized to receive similarly shaped lugs fixed to the upper surface of the trunnion ring. Wear strips are detachably fixed to the lugs and disposed between the sides of the lugs and the confronting surfaces of the pockets of the brackets.

United States Patent Mevissen et al.

[54] SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR A TILTABLE HOT METAL PROCESSING VESSEL inventors: Ernst A. Mevissen, Robinson Township,

Allegheny County; Stanley M. Coulter, Wexford, both of Pa.

Assignee: Dravo Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Filed: Aug. 20, 1970 Appl. No.: 65,650

3,653,649 Apr. 4, 1972 57] ABSTRACT A support assembly for use with a hot metal processing vessel, including a plurality of upper primary brackets fixed to the vessel at spaced intervals thereabout, each of the brackets having laterally extending trunnion-ring engaging bottom portions. A trunnion ring is provided in spaced relationship to an intermediate section of the vessel, and is arranged to have sliding contact with the ring-engaging portions of the primary brackets. The primary brackets have T-shaped pockets at the lower ends thereof, which pockets are sized to receive similarly shaped lugs fixed to the upper surface of the trunnion ring. Wear strips are detachably fixed to the lugs and disposed between the sides of the lugs and the confronting surfaces of the pockets of the brackets.

10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures EATENTEDAPR 4|972 3,653,649

sum 2 BF 3 FIB-.3

INVENTORS ERNST A. MEV/SSE/V and STANLEY M. COULTER By himza W QJM Meir Allamoys PATENTEI] APR 4 I972 SHEET 3 ummmwmum,

' INVENTORS mm "p ERNST 4. ME v/ssnv and STANLEY M. COULTER Illa/r Ariorneys SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR A TILTABLE HOT METAL PROCESSING VESSEL This invention relates to a support assembly for use with a tiltable hot metal processing vessel, and particularly to a support assembly which accommodates the relative thermal expansion and contraction between the vessel and the trunnion ring forming part of the assembly.

A common manner of supporting a tiltable hot metal processing vessel, such as a BOF ferrous metal converter furnace, is to secure the vessel to a trunnion ring surrounding an intermediate section of the vessel. Trunnion shafts are fixed to the ring and are supported for rotation about a horizontal axis. The vessel is usually secured to the trunnion ring by upper and lower groups of brackets fixed to the vessel and to bearing surfaces on the upper and lower surface, respectively, of the trunnion ring.

Many hot metal processes are subject to extremely high temperatures which cause the vessels to thermally expand. Such thermal expansion of the vessels requires that the mounting structure between the vessel and trunnion ring be suitably designed to accommodate the expansion. Various expansion compensating mounting arrangements are known. Most of these arrangements require the use of both upper and lower vessel mounted brackets cooperating with engaging surfaces on the top and bottom of the trunnion ring. In these arrangements clearances between the mating parts play an important role. For example, in one arrangement the mating parts of the lower support assemblies are provided with a clearance which will be taken up by the thermal expansion of the vessel. The difficulty there is that the proper clearances may not always be selected. When the clearances are too large, they may not be taken up completely during expansion and a gap will persist between the lower mating surfaces. Thus, when the vessel is inverted, the vessel will drop onto the trunnion ring, which might result in damage to the outer shell of the vessel and/or to the trunnion ring. On the other hand, where the selected clearances are too small, thermal expansion of the vessel will result in stresses being set up between the lower mating surfaces which could lead to damage of the lower brackets and/or the trunnion ring.

One mounting structure has been proposed for eliminating the need for considering clearances between the mating surfaces of lower bracket assemblies. Such support structure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,454,269, hereinafter referred to as the patent." The support structure of the patent is an arrangement of upper bracket assemblies which serve to support a vessel on a trunnion ring without the need for any lower or bottom supports. However, the support structures of the patent does not eliminate the need for making a proper selection of clearances between mating surfaces of the upper bracket assemblies. The patent does point out the problem in relying on clearances between the mating parts, but fails to solve the problem by the disclosed support structure. When the vessel expands, stresses will be created between the vessel mounted and mating trunnion ring mounted support structures, unless proper selection of clearances is made. The only difference between the support structure of the patent and the earlier support structures is that the patent shifts the clearance selection problem from the lower support structures to an upper support arrangement.

The support structure of the patent includes a plurality of brackets mounted on the shell of a vessel, each bracket including a horizontal flange or foot portion. The foot portion of each bracket is received between a pair of opposed guide arms mounted on the upper surface of a trunnion ring. Spacers are disposed between the guide arms and the foot portion of each bracket. When the vessel expands, the brackets will expand with it. The bracket will grow at a greater rate than the guide arms since the arms are mounted on the trunnion ring which is spaced from the vessel and is cooler than the vessel. Thus, the foot portion of the brackets will place a stress on the guide arms unless a suitable clearance is initially provided between the spacers and the foot portions.

We overcome the above mentioned problems inherent in relying on clearances between mating surface of hot metal processing vessel support structures, while at the same time providing proper support for the vessel. In our arrangement the primary upper bracket members will expand with the vessel but will grow away from the mating surfaces on the trunnion ring. As a result, no stresses are created between the elements of the support structure during thermal expansion of the vessel. More particularly our support structure preferably comprises: a plurality of upper primary brackets fixed to the vessel at spaced intervals thereabout, each bracket having laterally extending trunnion ring-engaging bottom portions; a trunnion ring in spaced-encircling position about the vessel, the top surface of the ring being arranged to have sliding contact with the ring-engaging portions of the primary brackets; each of the primary brackets having an open portion between the ring-engaging portions and shoulder surfaces on opposite sides of the open portion; and a plurality of T-shaped lug means fixed on the top surface of the trunnion ring and sized to fit within the open portion of the primary brackets, each of the lug means having a central leg sized to fit in the open portion of the pocket and an upper arm extending laterally in both directions to the leg and having opposite lower bearing surfaces slidably engaging the shoulder surfaces. The open portion of the primary brackets and the lug means are so sized and shaped to permit the primary brackets to move radially with the vessel during radial expansion and contraction thereof without interference between the brackets and the lug means.

Other details and advantages of the invention will become apparent as a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings we have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a hot metal processing vessel and a support structure for the vessel embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the vessel and support structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevation view of a section of the vessel and support structure of this invention showing one pair of upper primary brackets and one lower bracket, both of which brackets are shown in engagementwith bearing surfaces of the trunnion ring;

FIG. 4 is a view looking along the line lV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of one of the upper primary brackets shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the bracket of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view looking along the line VIIVII of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view looking along the line VIIIVIII of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an open top hot metal processing vessel 10 such as would be used, for example, in the basic oxygen refining of ferrous metals. The vessel 10 is generally cylindrically shaped and includes the familiar metal shell and refractory brick lining. The vessel 10 is supported for tilting from the upright metal charging and refining position shown in FIG. 1 to a completely inverted slag-off position. The support assembly for vessel 10 includes a hollow trunnion ring 12 encircling an intermediate section of the vessel and radially spaced therefrom. The vessel 10 is connected by bracket assemblies to the trunnion ring 12 which in turn is supported for rotation on coaxial trunnion shafts l4 and 16 fixed on opposite sides of the trunnion ring and arranged in bearings housed on ground supported stanchions, not shown. Trunnion shaft 14 is connected to a power drive means, not shown, for supplying the motive force to drive the trunnion shaft, trunnion ring, and vessel about the horizontal axis of the shafts.

The bracket assemblies fixing the vessel 10 to the trunnion ring 12 include two pairs of identically shaped upper primary brackets 20 fixed to the outer shell of the vessel. One primary bracket 20 of each pair is disposed with its centerline in a vertical plane adjacent one side of the trunnion shaft 14 while the other bracket of that pair is similarly disposed in a vertical plane adjacent the other side of trunnion shaft 14. The other pair of primary brackets 20 is similarly arranged with respect to trunnion shaft 16. Each primary bracket 20 is identically shaped and only one will be described with the understanding that such description pertains also to the other primary brackets. Each primary bracket 20 is formed in a generally L- shaped with the back portion thereof being contoured to fit snugly on the wall of the vessel 10, and the lower portion extending radially outwardly from the vessel. The lower portion of the primary bracket 20 has a pair of trunnion ring-engaging bottom surfaces 22 and 24 separated by a T-shaped pocket 26. The pocket 26 has a central portion which separates the bottom surfaces 22 and 24 and an upper section which defines shoulder sections 28 and 30 spaced above the plane of bottom surfaces 22 and 24 on opposite sides of the central portion of the pocket. The bottom surfaces 22 and 24 of primary bracket 20 slidably engage plate members 32 and 34 secured to the top surface of trunnion ring 12 on opposite sides of T-shaped lugs 36 sized to fit within the confines of pocket 26. Each lug 36 includes a central leg 36a and a depending upper arm 36b extending transversely in both directions from the leg. The leg 36a and arm 36b are sized such that a clearance exists between the sides of the legs and the confronting surfaces of the central portion of pocket 26, and the opposite bottom surfaces of the arm 36b the confronting surfaces of shoulders 28 and 30. A pair of identically shaped wear strips 40 are detachably fixed to leg 36a of lug 36, as by bolts, and are disposed in the spaces formed between the sides of the leg and the central portions of pocket 26. The wear strips 40 snugly engage the surfaces of the leg 36a and the opposite surface of ocket 26. A pair of identically shaped wear strips 44 are detachably fixed to the opposite end portions of arm 36b of lug 36, as by bolts, and are disposed in the spaces formed between bottom surfaces of the arm and confronting surfaces of shoulders 28 and 30. As with wear strips 40, wear strips 44 snugly engage the bottom surfaces of arm 36b and the shoulders 28 and 30.

Each of the primary brackets 20 is also provided with a stop member 48 formed integrally with the bracket on the radial outer end of the bracket. Stop member 48 extends between the sides of the bracket 20 and traverses the open outer radial end of the pocket 26. Stop member 48 thus serves to limit the radial movement of each lug 36 with respect to each primary brackets 20.

A pair of oppositely arranged, identically shaped upper secondary brackets 50 is fixed to the shell of vessel for limiting lateral movement of the vessel when it is in the upright and inverted positions. Each secondary bracket 50 is located in a position approximately 90 from the centerline of the trunnion shafts l4 and 16. Since both brackets 50 are identical, only one will be described with the understanding that such description pertains to both brackets. Each bracket 50 is generally L-shaped with the back portion being contoured to the curvature of vessel 10 while the bottom portion extends radially from the vessel to engage a plate 52 secured to the top surface of trunnion ring 12. ldentically shaped blocks 54 are fixed to the upper surface of trunnion ring 12 adjacent and spaced slightly (viz. A; inch) from the opposite sides of the bottom portion of bracket 50. Secondary brackets 50 are not essential to the support assembly of this invention, but are only incorporated to prevent lateral movement of the vessel in its upright and inverted positions.

A pair of identically shaped lower brackets 60 is fixed to opposite sides of the shell of vessel 10 below the trunnion in 12, the centerline of each bracket 60 lying in vertical planes including the centerlines of trunnion shafts 14 and 16. Each bracket 60 being identical, a description will be made for one with the understanding that it pertains to both. Bracket 60 is generally L-shaped in cross-section, with the lower portion being shaped to match the contour of the shell of vessel 10 and the upper portion extending radially out from the vessel and spaced below the lower surface of trunnion ring 12. A channel 66 is formed in the central portion of the upper end of bracket 60 block between the bearing surfaces 62 and 64. A bearing block 70 fixed to the lower surface of trunnion ring 12 is received in channel 66. Block 70 is sized with a clearance between the sides thereof and the confronting side surfaces of channel 66. Identical wear strips 72 are detachably fixed to the block 70 and are arranged at the side portions thereof to fit in the gaps between the sides of the block and the channel 66 and to slidably engage the surfaces of the side of the block and the channel. Brackets 60 serve as auxiliary supports when the vessel 10 is tilted between its upright and completely inverted positions. The lower brackets 60 share with the upper brackets 20 the support of the vessel when it is in between its upright and inverted positions.

When the vessel 10 is in the upright position shown in P10. 1, the weight of the vessel will transmit a force through the bearing surfaces 22 and 24 of primary brackets 20 through plate 32 and 34 on trunnion ring 12. Force will also be transmitted through the shoulder surfaces 28 and 30 of primary brackets 20 and to the arm 36b of lugs 36 through wear strips 44. When the vessel 10 is completely inverted, the weight of the vessel will transmit a force through the arms 36b of lugs 36 to the shoulder surfaces 28 and 30 or primary brackets 20. In the positions between the upright and completely inverted positions, some of the weight will be borne by the lower brackets 60. The primary brackets 20 will take some of the vessel load in the intermediate tilted positions, with force being transmitted through surfaces of the central portion of pockets 26 of the primary brackets 20 to the sides of legs 36a of the lugs 36.

During thermal expansion of vessel 10, the primary brackets 20 and lower brackets 60 will grow axially, radially, and circumferentially with the vessel. The growth of the primary brackets 20 and lower brackets 60 will be in a direction away from the lugs 36 and bearing blocks 70. Thus, no stresses will be created between the primary brackets 20 and lugs 36 or between lower brackets 60 and bearing blocks 70. Although secondary brackets 50 will thermally grow toward blocks 54 no stress between them need result if the clearance between their side surfaces is made large enough to accommodate the growth of the brackets. As the vessel radially expands and contracts, the primary brackets 20 and lower brackets 60 will move along with it. Shoulders 28 and 30 of primary brackets 20 will slide along the wear strips 44 while the surfaces of the central portion of pocket 26 will slide over wear strips 40. The bottom bearing surfaces 22 and 24 will also slide along plates 32 and 34 on trunnion ring 12. The surfaces of channel 66 of lower brackets 60 will slide along wear strips 72. This sliding between the bracket surfaces and the wear strips and plates will result in wear of the strips and plates and a need for their eventual replacement.

While we have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In combination with a tiltable hot metal processing vessel subject to thermal expansion and contraction in radial and axial directions, a support assembly comprising:

a plurality of upper primary brackets fixed to the vessel at spaced intervals thereabout, each having laterally extending trunnion ring-engaging bottom portions;

a trunnion ring in spaced-encircling position about the vessel, the top surface of which is arranged to have sliding contact with the ring-engaging portions of said primary brackets;

each of said primary brackets having an open portion between said ring-engaging portions and shoulder surfaces on opposite sides of the open portion; and

a plurality of T-shaped lug means fixed on the top surface of said trunnion ring and sized to be received within the open portions of said primary brackets, each of said lug means having a central leg sized to fit in and slidably engage surface portions of a said open portion and an upper arm extending laterally in both directions to the leg and having opposite lower bearing surfaces slidably engaging said shoulder surfaces, the open portions of said primary brackets and said lug means being so sized and shaped to permit said primary brackets to move radially with the vessel during radial expansion and contraction thereof without interference between the brackets and the lug means.

2. The support assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a plurality of upper secondary bracket means fixed to the vessel at spaced intervals thereabout, each having laterally extending side surfaces engaging top surface portions of said trunnion ring for limiting lateral movement of the vessel in its upright and inverted positions.

3. The support assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a plurality of lower brackets fixed to the vessel at spaced intervals thereabout, each of said lower brackets having a laterally projecting upper surfaces axially spaced from the lower surface of said trunnion ring and an open top central pocket between the upper surfaces, and wherein the lower surface of said trunnion ring has bearing portions arranged to engage the side surfaces of the central pockets of said lower brackets.

4. The support assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the side faces of the leg portion of each of said lug means which engage the open portions of said primary brackets are provided by wear strips secured to said leg portion; and the lower bearing surfaces of said upper arm are provided by wear strips secured to said arms.

5. The support assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said primary brackets include a stop member on the radial outer end portion of the brackets and extending across the radial outer ends ofsaid lug means.

6. In the combination of a tiltable hot metal processing vessel subject to thermal expansion and contraction in the radial and axial directions; a trunnion ring in a spaced-encircling position around an intermediate portion of the vessel; and including an upper support means between the vessel and upper surfaces of the trunnion ring; the improvement therewith in the upper support means comprising:

a plurality of primary brackets attached to the vessel at spaced intervals thereabout, each having laterally extending bottom portions engaging portions of the top surface of the trunnion ring;

each of said primary brackets having an open portion between the ring-engaging bottom portions of the brackets and shoulder surfaces on opposite sides of the open portion; and

the trunnion ring having T-shaped portions on the top surface thereof sized to be slidably received within the open portions of said primary brackets, the T-shaped portions having a central leg and an upper arm extending laterally in both directions to the leg and having opposite lower bearing surfaces slidably engaging the shoulder surfaces within said open portions, the open portions of said primary brackets and said T-shaped portions being so sized and shaped to permit said primary brackets to move radially with the vessel during radial expansion and contraction thereof without interference between the brackets and the T-shaped portions.

7. The improvement as set forth in claim 6 wherein said T- shaped portions of the trunnion ring are lug members fixed to the upper surfaces of the trunnion ring.

8. The improvement as set forth in claim 6 including wear strip members disposed between the surface of each side of the central leg of said T-shaped portion of the trunnion ring and the confronting surfaces of the central portion of said open portion of said primary brackets.

9. The improvement as set forth in claim 6 wherein said open portions in said primary brackets are sized such that the shoulder surfaces are spaced from the arms of said T-shaped portion of the trunnion ring; and including wear strip members between the lower bearing surfaces of said arms and the shoulder surfaces within said open portions.

10. The improvement as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said primary brackets includes a stop member on the radial outer end portion thereof and extending across the .radial outer end of the T-shaped portion of the trunnion ring. 

1. In combination with a tiltable hot metal processing vessel subject to thermal expansion and contraction in radial and axial directions, a support assembly comprising: a plurality of upper primary brackets fixed to the vessel at spaced intervals thereabout, each having laterally extending trunnion ring-engaging bottom portions; a trunnion ring in spaced-encircling position about the vessel, the top surface of which is arranged to have sliding contact with the ring-engaging portions of said primary brackets; each of said primary brackets having an open portion between said ring-engaging portions and shoulder surfaces on opposite sides of the open portion; and a plurality of T-shaped lug means fixed on the top surface of said trunnion ring and sized to be received within the open portions of said primary brackets, each of said lug means having a central leg sized to fit in and slidably engage surface portions of a said open portion and an upper arm extending laterally in both directions to the leg and having opposite lower bearing surfaces slidably engaging said shoulder surfaces, the open portions of said primary brackets and said lug means being so sized and shaped to permit said primary brackets to move radially with the vessel during radial expansion and contraction thereof without interference between the brackets and the lug means.
 2. The support assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a plurality of upper secondary bracket means fixed to the vessel at spaced intervals thereabout, each having laterally extending side surfaces engaging top surface portions of said trunnion ring for limiting lateral movement of the vessel in its upright and inverted positions.
 3. The support assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a plurality of lower brackets fixed to the vessel at spaced intervals thereabout, each of said lower brackets having a laterally projecting upper surfaces axially spaced from the lower surface of said trunnion ring and an open top central pocket between the upper surfaces, and wherein the lower surface of said trunnion ring has bearing portions arranged to engage the side surfaces of the central pockets of said lower brackets.
 4. The support assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the side faces of the leg portion of each of said lug means which engage the open portions of said primary brackets are provided by wear strips secured to said leg portion; and the lower bearing surfaces of said upper arm are provided by wear strips secured to said arms.
 5. The support assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said primary brackets include a stop member on the radial outer end portion of the brackets and extending across the radial outer ends of said lug means.
 6. In the combination of a tiltable hot metal processing vessel subject to thermal expansion and contraction in the radial and axial directions; a trunnion ring in a spaced-encircling position around an intermediate portion of the vessel; and including an upper support means between the vessel and upper surfaces of the trunnion ring; the improvement therewith in the upper support means comprising: a plurality of primary brackets attached to the vessel at spaced intervals thereabout, each having laterally extending bottom portions engaging portions of the top surface of the trunnion ring; each of said primary brackets having an open portion between the ring-engaging bottom portions of the brackets and shoulder surfaces on opposite sides of the open portion; and the trunnion ring having T-shaped portions on the top surface thereof sized to be slidably received within the open portions of said primary brackets, the T-shaped portions having a central leg and an upper arm extending laterally in both directions to the leg and having opposite lower bearing surfaces slidably engaging the shoulder surfaces within said open portions, the open portions of said primary brackets and said T-shaped portions being so sized and shaped to permit said primary brackets to move radially with the vessel during radial expansion and contraction thereof without interference between the brackets and the T-shaped portions.
 7. The improvement as set forth in claim 6 wherein said T-shaped portions of the trunnion ring are lug members fixed to the upper surfaces of the trunnion ring.
 8. The improvement as set forth in claim 6 including wear strip members disposed between the surface of each side of the central leg of said T-shaped portion of the trunnion ring and the confronting surfaces of the central portion of said open portion of said primary brackets.
 9. The improvement as set forth in claim 6 wherein said open portions in said primary brackets are sized such that the shoulder surfaces are spaced from the arms of said T-shaped portion of the trunnion ring; and including wear strip members between the lower bearing surfaces of said arms and the shoulder surfaces within said open portions.
 10. The improvement as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said primary brackets includes a stop member on the radial outer end portion thereof and extending across the radial outer end of the T-shaped portion of the trunnion ring. 